Finally, the body of
my hero, the late Muhammed Ali was laid to rest, may his soul rest in peace.
I went to Kuwait in
1975 when Ali was at his peak and his popularity in the Arab world was at its
zenith. Kuwait TV was showing all his
fights, recorded as well as live ones which I used to watch even by spending full nights and sometimes not even going to work in the next morning, so
fanatic I was after Boxing which brought to the highest pedestal only by
Ali. I had a collection of about a
dozen Video Cassettes of all his fights starting from Rome Olympics. Besides, with all my humility, I can say that
I carry a unique distinction of reading every book appeared in the market on
him, either authored by him or by somebody including his autobiography THE
GREATEST.
One of his most
memorable fights was with Japanese Wrestler Antonio Inoki which then in late
seventies billed as the biggest fight.
It was like half wrestling and half boxing with special rules, in this
bout Inoki outclassed Ali who was on defensive pose throughout but finally if I
remember correctly, it was declared as a draw.
That was the only fight of that nature taken place.
On one occasion Ali was
watching one heavyweight wrestling match along with his colleagues. Ali noticed one wrestler was mercilessly
beating the other and being unable to control his temper, Ali rushed to the Wrestling Ring and started
shouting at the wrestler having upper hand.
There was confusion in and around the Ring. Ali said “I will show you”, for this the reply
came saying “come up and I will show you what I can do”. Ali removed his Pant and Shirt and jumped on to the Ring. The wrestler was
very powerful, he rushed towards Ali and
like a Doll he lifted Ali over his head and while about to bang Ali to the
ground, Ali’s colleagues rushed there
and pulled Ali from the hands of the wrestler and thus saved Ali from the major
injury and embarrassment.
Ali sometimes acted
like a comedian, during one fight he stationed himself at one corner and allowed
his opponent to hit him. While in this position, people started chanting “ALI –
ALI – ALI…..”. For this, Ali by covering
his face with one fist, responded to the chants of the crowd by raising his
other hand in the air on the tune of chants. And yet Ali managed to win that
bout.
I admire you Boxer
Muhammed Ali. In your sad death, not only Boxing but Sports in general is become
dull.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
